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iOS 14.5

iOS 14.5: Apple Brings New iOS Update Along with Enhancements to its Major Features.

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After Apple launched its new iPad Pro models, the AirTag and colorful iMacs, recently at its first event of 2021, the company has now brought a new update to its iOS, i.e., iOS 14.5, on Monday. Reportedly, the company has claimed that there are many exciting features added along with the new update. Though the update is not a very big one, the features that it has brought are the ones that may attract many iOS users. The update has been done for both iPhone and iPad users in terms of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5.

What the iOS 14.5 has got for the Apple Users?

Apple has made small enhancements to almost all its major features. Starting with unlocking the Apple phone and the iPad, Apple has now added new capabilities to the Apple Watch, such that the users can use it to unlock the smartphone or the iPad. The feature has been added as the face lock won’t work with a mask. So, now the users can use their watch to unlock their devices securely.

The company has also introduced a new feature to control the apps that the users want to share their information with. This way, the users are now capable of changing their preferences on sharing their information with the apps, at any point of time just through the settings.

After the iOS 14.5 update, Siri has also got some enhancements done to it. The updated Siri now has more options of voice, and it has adopted the Neural Text to Speech technology to make the voice sound more human-like. The English language users have got even more options in terms of voice selection.

iOS 14.5
Image Source: macrumors.com

Apple has also worked on making the chats more interesting by adding new emojis to its library. These emojis include couple kissing emoji, couple with heart emoji, face exhaling, face with spiral eyes, face in clouds, hearts on fire, mending heart, etc. The users have the option for selecting different face colors of the emojis. This way, the new update will bring over 200 new emojis for its users.

Apple has also improved its map specifically for its US and Chinese users, as now they can report any incident like an accident, hazard, or speed check on the map. The users can report these incidents to Siri on iPhone or CarPlay, or can directly go to “Report an Issue” in Maps, and the other users going through the same route get notified about the same. The new update also allows the users to share their ETA with their family or friends.

The Apple Podcasts have also got a new look and feel to provide the users with quicker access. They now can easily download the podcasts that directly go to their library. The new update has also got the support for the newly launched AirTag that has been developed to make the users easily track and find their important items of daily use.

Apple has also redesigned its News+ tab for easy access and management of the magazine and newspaper issues for the users. The company has also improved its search experience for the users so that to better the topic search for the users.

Other Added Features

Other than these major enhancements, the Apple update has also brought improvements to the Reminders, Apple Fitness+, and Accessibility. The users now can sort the reminders on a priority basis and also can print them. For Fitness+, the company has made the AirPlay2 enabled to stream the audio and video through the TV and other devices. On the other hand, the Accessibility feature now can work through the users’ voice. Apple has launched English language support for Australian and Canadian users and support for Spanish in Mexico, Spain, and the United States.

With the support for the dual sim in the iPhone 12 models, the company, with its new update, has added the support for 5G connectivity and added Smart Data Mode enhancements for its users.

Apple

Six biggest announcements by Apple revealing a bunch of new hardware products.

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On 21st April 2021, Apple held an event at its campus in Cupertino, California, and announced six new hardware products. The biggest highlights of this event were the new iPad Pro which is coming with a mini-LED display, a redesigned new iMac, Apple’s new podcast subscription service, a brand new Apple TV streaming box, a stunning purple color option for iPhone 12, and finally the long-awaited AirTag. These six new products by Apple are way too exciting for both its existing users and potential audience. So, let’s have a glimpse at all the specifications of this new hardware.

New iPad Pro with M1 Chip

The new iPad Pro is coming with the revolutionary M1 chip which will lead to a huge leap in performance. This new product features a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with high-speed storage of up to 2TB along with Thunderbolt expansion. The new iPad Pro is featuring an 8-core CPU design which will deliver 50 percent faster CPU performance than A12Z Bionic. It will also deliver 40 percent faster GPU performance which will make iPad Pro the fastest device of its kind. The product is having a next-generation 16-core Apple Neural Engine, an advanced image signal processor (ISP), and high bandwidth memory architecture. The new iPad Pro has a true depth camera system featuring a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera. You can order the new iPad Pro from 30th April on the official website of Apple.

Apple
Image Source: apple.com

Apple’s All-new iMac

The All-new iMac by Apple is featuring a much more compact and thin design enabled by the M1 chip. The new 24-inch iMac is designed for very powerful performance. It has a 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels and a peak brightness of 500 nits. It also has a 1080p FaceTime HD camera for a better experience attending those Zoom meetings along with studio-quality mics and a six-speaker sound system. It is for the first time ever that Mac brings Touch ID ensuring better security. The device will be powered by macOS Big Sur which will get your everyday tasks done at a very high speed and enable smooth multitasking as well. It will be available from the second half of May in several different colors, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver.

Apple
Image Source: apple.com

Podcasts Subscription

Apple introduces Apple Podcasts subscriptions which will help listeners around the globe discover premium subscriptions that are offered by many creators along with free shows on Apple Podcasts. This product will also roll out in May in more than 170 countries. Users will be able to sign up for premium subscriptions for content by their favorite creators, add free music, exclusive access to new series, etc. Users will be able to get premium subscriptions from channels and brands like Tenderfoot TV, Pushkin Industries, QCODE, NPR, Sony Music Entertainment, etc. Apart from the listeners, the Apple Podcasts for Creators website will immensely help them to stay updated and they can access a dashboard that will help them visualize user engagement and track performance using various tools.

Next-Generation Apple TV 4K

Apple reveals the next-generation Apple TV 4K which will deliver high frame rate HDR with Dolby Vision enabling fast-moving action at 60 fps (frames per second). It will help customers connect with their favorite content in the best ever quality. The new Apple TV 4K is featuring the A12 Bionic chip that will provide a significant boost not only in graphics performance but also video decoding and audio processing. The Siri Remote as usual will make work several folds easier with intuitive navigation controls. Users will have access to many award-winning shows and movies like Greyhound, The Morning Show, Lasso, etc on the Apple TV+ app. The Apple Fitness app is always placed on the new TV providing both workout mantra and entertainment at once.

iPhone 12 in a Stunning Purple Color

Apple has introduced a stunning purple color for Apple iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini. The new color is enhancing the look of the product to several folds accentuating the flat aluminum edges and equally complimenting the precision-milled back glass. Both phones have expansive edge-to-edge Super Retina XDR displays with OLED and a super-advanced dual-camera system. The durability of the phones has been increased with a ceramic shield front cover. The new purple iPhone 12 is powered by A14 Bionic which is the fastest chip in a smartphone.

Apple Introduces AirTag

Apple
Image Source: apple.com

Apple has introduced AirTag which is a small accessory that will help the customers keep track of items and also find them using Apple’s Find My App. You can attach them to anything from keys to your handbag and it will help you find the location of that object. AirTags are offered in a single or four-pack priced at Rs 3190 and Rs 10900 respectively.

Predator Helios 300

Acer launches Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop with Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs.

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Acer launches new gaming laptops Acer Predator Helios 300 in India with Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs. The new series of laptops will be powered by a 10th generation Intel Core i7 octa-core mobile gaming processor. Many new features have been added to these new laptop models to enhance the gaming experience. The laptops have Killer’s E2600 Ethernet Controller and Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i which reduces the latency while playing games. The response time has been reduced to 3 milliseconds for smooth gaming.

Many new gaming laptops from other brands have also launched within a single year. Since the pandemic, the tech industry has witnessed more sales of laptops, gaming consoles, etc as people are trying to enhance their mode of entertainment since locked up in their homes. Acer Predator is one of the finest gaming laptops in the market. So, let’s have a detailed look at all the specifications of the new Helios 300 models.

Specifications of Acer Predator Helios 300

The new Acer Predator Helios 300 is going to be your next dream gaming laptop if you look at all the specifications. This laptop will directly drop you into the gaming zone with an insanely fast refresh rate of 240 Hz and a response time of only 3 milliseconds.  Acer is embedding NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU into the system to make the gaming more profound. The laptop is also provided with custom-engineered fourth-generation Aeroblade 3D technology. The size of the laptop is 15.6 inch and it has a full HD+ IPS display with a peak brightness of 300 nits.

The processor of the new Acer Predator Helios 300 is a 10th generation Intel core i7 Mobile processor with 2933MHz DDR4 memory up to 32GB. RAM up to 32GB means the laptop will be super fast and it will also have high-speed storage for your gaming library. Gaming laptops are expected to be super fast and that’s why it always has high RAM and excellent graphics. Speaking of graphics, the GeForce RTX 3080 is powered by NVIDIA’s 2nd generation RTX Ampere architecture. This technology has new ray-tracing cores, tensor cores, and streaming multiprocessors. All these combined, the performance of the new Predator Helios 300 will be increased by several folds.

Predator Helios 300
Image Source: bgr.in

The new models will have Intel 10th generation processors which are now clocking up to 5.0GHz Turbo. It will have up to 6 cores and 12 threads so you don’t need to worry about tasks that it cannot perform. You give the load to the laptop and it will figure out the rest. The laptops have 3rd generation Tensor Cores which enables mixed-precision computing, dynamical calculations, high rate of acceleration while preserving accuracy. The 2nd generation Ray Tracing cores simulates the true behavior of light. This enhances the real-time cinematic quality to help the gamer experience a more virtually intense environment while playing.

Acer Predator Helios 300 also has Nvidia DLSS whose AI capabilities boost both the frame rate and at the same time preserves the image quality. Previously mentioned 4th generation Aeroblade 3D Technology is all about having a very efficient cooling system that reduces noise while increasing the airflow. Predator CoolBoost is also present which increases the fan speed depending on the heat generated thus keeping critical areas continually cooled.

Keyboard and Audio System

Acer Predator Helios 300 keyboards are very attractive coming with 4-zone RGB that uses Predator typeface. You can experience quality audio with a high-end 360 degrees surround sound system. The audio system can be customized according to your preference and while you are gaming it seems like you are standing next to your opponent. The sound system of the laptop creates a wide expansive sound stage which provides improved harmonics for both mono and stereo.

Price and Availability

The price of the new Acer Predator Helios 300 is starting from Rs 1,19,990 in India. You can order the laptop now on Acer Exclusive Store, Acer Online Store, and Flipkart.  You can apply for both bank discounts and EMI options.

Android 12

Google Android 12 Developer Preview Reveals the Features and Release Date of the OS.

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Google has already shared the two versions of the Android 12 developer previews, and its third version is also on the way. The developer preview is nothing but a sneak peek at the new features that a software possesses before its actual release. The previous developer previews and other leaks of Android 12 have already given us much-needed information about the OS. The latest leaks and rumors have disclosed some more features and also the date of Android 12’s final release.

Talking About the Features of Android 12

Since the TVs have also become smarter, with the new updated OS, Google has improved the Android 12 OS features for the smart TVs. Apart from that, the company has also made sure that the OS works better on tablets and foldable phones as well. Google has worked on the video and image quality for the new OS, as now it will be possible for the users to save data through image compression and better copy and paste features.

Google has also better the game on screenshot capturing as earlier all the smartphone could only take the whole screen screenshot, but the new improved screenshot feature on Android 12 allows the user to capture a manually selected area on the screen. According to the reports, the screenshot capture may include a markup menu as well, which may allow the users to add annotations and emojis to the screenshots.

Android 12
Image Source: fonearena.com

The split-screen feature has also been improved in the new Android OS 12, as now the users can run two apps in pair through a double-tap on the screen, simultaneously. This very feature has been improved, most likely for foldable smartphones.

Google had already introduced the double tap on the back feature in the Android 11 beta. The feature was to access the Google Assistant by tapping twice on the back of the phone. But it failed to impress the audience. The same feature has been introduced in the Android 12 OS, but this time, the users are allowed to set the sensitivity level of the tap, so that no other action takes place on the tapping. The double-tap feature will also allow the users to access the notification, take a screenshot, pause/resume media playback, and open recent apps, etc.

The new Android 12 OS will also include the theme option in it. The users will be able to apply a particular color as a theme for their smartphones. The app developers can also take advantage of this feature by allowing their apps to incorporate color themes into their apps. The notification panel will also get a whole new opaque background and the looks for the lock screen media player have also been changed a bit. Another new feature of the Android 12 OS will also let the users adjust or reduce on-screen contrast.

Security Feature

The company has also improved the security features for smartphones in the upcoming Android OS. There will be an option to allow or block the use of a camera and microphone on the various apps. The OS will also alert the users if any app is using the content from the clipboard of the phone. The OS will also include the facility to share the wi-fi passwords with nearby smartphones through QR code scanning.

Android 12
Image Source: xda-developers.com

Devices to Get Android 12 and Release Date

Though most of the latest Android smartphones will get access to the new Android 12, the names given by the company that will come with Android 12 includes Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5, Samsung Galaxy S21 and OnePlus 9, etc.

Google has already released the second developer preview version of Android 12 and is organizing the Google IO 2021 event from May 18 to May 20, where the company is said to release the first public beta version of the OS. Reportedly, the company is going to have the final launch of the OS in September this year.

Zenbook

Asus launches ZenBook Duo 14 and ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED with ScreenPad Plus Secondary Display.

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Asus has recently rolled out two new laptop models of the company, that is, Asus ZenBook Duo 14 and ZenBook Pro Duo 15 in the Indian market. These are the two new premium ZenBook models that are targeting a wide range of customers from students to professionals. Since remote work has become the routine of our life now every customer is looking for highly productive and multitasking laptop models. Both of the new ZenBook models are featuring a secondary display called ScreenPad Plus which is offered along with the regular display. The secondary display is the most catchy feature of the new ZenBook models expanding user’s productivity.

The new ZenBook Duo 14 has 11th generation Intel Core processors and also carries Intel Evo verification. On the other hand, ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED is running on 10th generation Intel Core processors. The latter one also has Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 graphics. The graphics show that the new ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED can also be the first choice of many gamers. Both the machines are provided with Asus’ proprietary Active Aerodynamic System (AAS+). When one opens the laptop’s lid the built-in ScreenPad Plus rises and offers up to 49 percent higher airflow and better thermal management.

Specification of Asus ZenBook Duo 14

The new Asus ZenBook Duo 14 is featuring a 14-inch full HD IPS level display. The maximum brightness of the screen is 400-nits and has 100 percent sRGB color coverage. It has a screen-to-body ratio of 93 percent. The secondary screen of the ZenBook, that is, the ScreenPad Plus is 12.65-inch and has a resolution of 1920X515 pixels, and includes stylus support. The main purpose of the secondary screen is to enhance multitasking which is a prime need for any working professional and even students. The OS of the model is Windows 10 and the laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-1156G7 processor. The GPU provided is of Nvidia GeForce MX450 and the RAM is up to 16GB LPDDR4x RAM. Storage of the machine is up to 1TB of M.2 SSD.

For connectivity purposes, Asus ZenBook Duo 14 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, one HDMI 1.4, and a 3.5mm headphone jack (Gadgets 360). For wireless connectivity, it also has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.0. The audio system of the Asus ZenBook Duo 14 is very impressive as it comes with Harman Kardon-backed speakers along with an array of microphones that will have support for Cortana. The noise-canceling technology of the laptop is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Asus ZenBook Duo 14 has a battery of 70Wh which will power the laptop for 17 hours on a single charge. The laptop weighs 1.57 kgs and the dimension is 324X222X16.9mm.

Zenbook
Image Source: asus.com

Specification of Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED

The second premium ZenBook that Asus has launched in India recently is Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED. This laptop is featuring a 15.6-inch OLED 4K ultra HD NanonEdge touch-enabled display. The display has 178-degree viewing angles with 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut and up to 400 nits of brightness. The display of the model is also Pantone validated and TUV Rheinland certified. IT also has VESA Display HDR 500 True Black certification. The secondary screen of this model is a 14.1-inch tilting ScreenPad Plus display. The resolution of the secondary screen is 3840X1100 pixels which also provides 400-nits peak brightness.

ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED is powered by an Intel Core-i9 10980HK processor. The RAM provided in the model is up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM and 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 SSD storage. The laptop has two Thunderbolt 3 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, HDMI 2.1, and a headphone jack. For Bluetooth connectivity, there is Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.0. There is a microphone array and Harman Kardon-backed speakers. The battery of this model is a 92Wh battery and it measures 359x249x21.5mm and weighs 2.34 kilograms.

Price and Availability

The starting price of ZenBook Duo 14 in India is Rs 99,990 and of ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED is Rs 2,39,990. It is currently made available in India and can also be bought from online platforms like Flipkart and Amazon.

Samsung Neo

Samsung brings the new 2021 Neo QLED TV with Quantum Matrix Technology.

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On 14th April 2021, Samsung launched the new ultra-premium Neo QLED television range in India. Samsung has always been the leading company in India when it comes to the television sector and this new series of flat-screen will become a magnificent piece in your drawing room. The new televisions are coming with bezel-less Infinity One Design with the best real-life picture quality to level up your cinematic experience. The customers buying a model from this new line-up will enjoy Samsung TV Plus Service without any subscription or additional charges.

Samsung Neo QLED TV
Image Source: news.samsung.com

Specifications of Neo QLED TVs

The QLED TVs will soon rule the market with its Quantum Mini LED which is controlled by Quantum Matrix Technology and Neo Quantum Processor. The processor used is specially optimized for Neo QLED TVs which uses up to 16 neural network models trained by AI and deep learning technology. Picture quality is much improved in this new range of televisions displaying fine light and contrast levels. This has been possible because the Mini LEDs incorporated in this television are 40 times smaller than the regular LEDs. To make the HDR experience more authentic the luminance scale has been increased.

The display technology of Neo QLED is not like something you have witnessed before. The televisions will be available in 8K and 4K models which are the flagship products. There will be five different sizes for each of these models which are 85-inch, 75-inch, 65-inch, 55-inch, and 50-inch. Consumers who will pre-book Neo QLED TV can avail offers such as Samsung Galaxy Tabs and cashback.

Gaming Experience in Neo QLED TVs

Samsung has designed this new product range considering the gamers thus making the gaming experience out of the world. The Neo QLED TVs have the Motion Xcelerator Turbo+ feature which provides an immersive ultra-wide gaming experience. This feature allows the gamers to play both PC and console games with a Super Ultra-Wide Game View and Game Bar. The TVs also have an auto low latency mode which prevents tearing and stuttering thus providing a reliable experience. The Game Bar saves much time as it provides the gamer with direct options to connect a wireless headset, change the aspect ratio, etc.

Samsung Neo QLED TV
Image Source: news.samsung.com

The features in the Samsung Neo Quantum processor 8K includes higher frame rate, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), and eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel). These are some of the best features along with the Motion Xcelerator Turbo+ that minimizes blur and enhances motion clarity. The aspect ratio options are 21:9 and the ultra-wide option of 32:9. Since the beginning of lockdown, the demand for game consoles, televisions, and other entertaining devices has increased unexpectedly. Samsung rolling out a TV that will give the best gaming experience on a flat screen is like a dream for gamers.

Technology used in Samsung Neo QLED TV

Apart from the exceptional picture clarity, Samsung NEO is providing, the audio system of the television is also very impressive. The 2021 Samsung Neo comes with an Object Tracking Sound Pro (OTS Pro) that produces the audio from the point of action. This means the action moves and the sound moves accordingly. The audio system of Samsung Neo QLED also comes together in harmony as Q-Symphony syncs them with your speaker or other audio devices to get a better audio experience. There is also another feature called SpaceFit sound tech which analyzes the room environment to auto-calibrate TV sound. For noise cancellation, the Active Voice Amplifier feature is available which helps in producing clear sound.

The Samsung Neo QLED 2021 also has Quantum Matrix Technology which reduces picture blooming to a massive amount using precise lighting. It also features nano-sized Quantum Dots that helps the viewer to witness 100% color volume every time. You have never experienced this amount of vibrancy before as you are going to experience with the new Samsung Neo QLED.  For this product range, Samsung is offering a 2-years warranty on all panels and a 10-years warranty for no screen burn-in on the 4K models. The starting price of the models is Rs 99,990 and it will be available in the Samsung retail stores. You can also buy it from leading electronic stores or the official website of Samsung.